License to practice medicine: Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program and California Physician Expansion Act.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the number of provisional licenses to be issued or the exact conversion requirements from a provisional license to a full and unrestricted license.

Program for Mexican Doctors and California Doctor Expansion

This law creates a program that allows doctors from Mexico to get full medical licenses in California after meeting certain requirements, and it also sets up a way for doctors licensed in other countries to work temporarily in California with the chance to earn a full license later.

What This Bill Does

• It lets doctors who have completed a three-year program from Mexico apply for a full medical license in California if they meet specific conditions.
• It creates a new program called the California Physician Expansion Act, which allows doctors licensed in other countries to get provisional licenses to work in California.
• Doctors with provisional licenses must be employed by and practice medicine only within approved health care facilities.
• The board can extend provisional licenses for up to three more years if needed.
• After practicing under a provisional license for at least 36 months without any disciplinary actions, doctors can apply for a full medical license.

Who It Names or Affects

• Doctors from Mexico who want to practice medicine in California
• Doctors licensed in other countries looking to work temporarily in California

Terms To Know

Provisional License

A temporary license that allows doctors from other countries to practice medicine in California for up to six years, with the possibility of getting a full license after meeting certain requirements.

Full and Unrestricted License

A permanent medical license given to doctors who have completed all necessary training and meet specific criteria set by the Medical Board of California.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how many provisional licenses will be issued.
• It is unclear what fees will be charged for applying for or renewing a provisional license.
• The exact requirements for converting a provisional license to a full and unrestricted license are not detailed.

Official Summary Text

AB 2386, as amended, Alvarez.
License to practice medicine: Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program and California Physician Expansion Act.
Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California to license and regulate the practice of medicine.
Existing law
Former law, repealed as of January 1, 2025, established the Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program, which allowed up to 30 licensed physicians and up to 30 licensed dentists from Mexico to practice medicine or dentistry in California for a period not to exceed 3 years, in accordance with certain requirements. Existing law, operative January 1, 2025, instead,
establishes within the act the Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program, which authorizes the board to issue a limited number of nonrenewable 3-year physician’s and surgeon’s licenses
to licensed physicians from Mexico who meet specified criteria.
This bill would require the board to issue a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license to a person who has completed the 3-year term of the
program
Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program or the former Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program
in good standing upon satisfaction of specified requirements, including having an offer of continued employment from a health care facility or practice in California.
This bill would establish the California Physician Expansion Act, which would require the board to issue a provisional license to an applicant who holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in another country who meets
specified
requirements. The
requirements, including that the applicant has not committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of a certificate, as specified. In this regard, the bill would require the board to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the department of all applicants for a provisional license to determine whether the applicant has a criminal conviction record, as specified, and would require the department to provide a state- and federal-level response pursuant to specified provisions for the board to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure, as specified.
The
bill would make the
provisional
license valid for 3 years and would authorize the board to grant a one-time extension for an additional period of up to 3 years, as specified. The bill would require a provisional licensee to, among other things, be employed by, and practice medicine only within, a sponsoring entity that is approved by the board, as specified.
The bill would authorize the board to revoke a provisional license or take any other disciplinary action deemed appropriate by the board, as specified.
The bill would
require the board to issue a full and unrestricted physician’s and surgeon’s license to
deem
a provisional licensee applicant who meets specified requirements, including having completed at least
3 years
36 months
of practice under the provisional license without any disciplinary
actions.
actions, to meet the professional instruction, preliminary education, and postgraduate training requirements for a certificate under the Medical Practice Act.
The bill would require the board to establish application, initial licensure, renewal, and conversion fees for the provisional license, as specified. The bill would make findings and declarations relating to its provisions.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF